Upholstery fabrics for automobile, train and aircraft seats produced from regenerative nature fibers

ABSTRACT

A novel pure natural and regenerative automotive and aircraft upholstery fabric made from linen and blends of linen and cotton, bamboo, wool and/or viscose with physiological and fastness properties comparable with those of currently-used materials and meeting all the requirements of the automobile and aircraft industry.

This disclosure relates to upholstery fabrics for use in transportseating and to methods of making them.

STATE OF THE ART

The fabrics used in the interiors of automobiles and aircraft aregenerally produced exclusively from artificial fibers, which in turn arederived from petroleum feedstocks. These include materials such aspolyester (PES) and polypropylene. The production of such fibersinvolves the generation of considerable volumes of carbon (CO₂). Inaddition, they are poorly biodegradable, which means thatenvironmentally-conscious disposal is a problem. Finally, the prices ofsuch materials are highly dependent on the price of crude oil, which hastended to increase over time, meaning that the prices of such fibersalso tend to increase in line with this.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM AND ITS SOLUTION

This invention of a new and purely natural upholstery fabric fortransport seating, particularly automobile, train and aircraft seats,now aims to replace previous petroleum-based synthetic fiber substratessuch as polyester and polypropylene with pure or blended natural,regenerative raw materials.

This invention, therefore, provides an automobile or aircraft seatupholstery made exclusively of environmentally-friendly renewablenatural fibers, characterized in that the major component is linen. Theaim is to use long-fiber flax fibers and blends of linen with cotton,bamboo, wool and/or viscose (regenerated cellulose fiber), which arerenewable natural fiber mixtures. The mixing ratios are between 1% tomax. 100% by weight of pure linen.

Preference is given to mixtures of 50% linen and 50% cotton, bambooand/or viscose-filament whereby the mixing ratio between cotton and/orother natural cellulosic fibers is each between 0% and 50% cotton and 0%up to max. 50% viscose-filament where the proportion of cotton can bereplaced up to max. 40% by viscose filament.

In addition to physiological use advantages of natural comfort in modernmotor vehicles and aircraft, ecologically-friendly biodegradability andthe possibility of natural recovery of the raw material, themuch-debated CO₂ generation is reduced considerably in the production ofthe upholstery fabric hereinabove described. Studies (see e.g. Grafic:Nova Institute 2007; Eyerer & Reinhardt 2000, Pless 2001, BaFa 2006,Ifeu 2005 resp. SachsenLeinen 2006b and DaimlerChrysler 1997) show thatthe cumulative energy demand (CED) of natural fibers such as flax andhemp is reduced by up to 83% compared to that of petroleum-derived andglass fibers, as a result of the natural growth.

The independence of the natural fiber raw material from the extremeprice fluctuations of petroleum-derived plastics such as polyester andpolypropylene as a result of the fluctuations in oil prices, leads tofurther significant economical and cost advantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a natural regeneratedproduct as automobile and airplane upholstery fabric which in itsphysiological as well as colour fastness properties is equal to orbetter than those of the prior art, and that meets or improves the highperformance demands of the automotive and aircraft industries.

Primarily the following requirements must be met or improved:

-   -   1.) All abrasion resistance and tensile strength tested        according to Martindale strength test as the most stringent test    -   2.) Elongation test    -   3.) Heat light fastness tested according to the FAKRA test        method (the most stringent light fastness test)    -   4.) Flame resistance    -   5.) Rubbing fastness dry and wet    -   6.) Staining resistance    -   7.) Mold- and decomposition resistance (antibacterial finishing)

The economics of production and the product price have to be as good as,or better than, those of petroleum-based synthetic car upholsteryfabrics.

To meet these requirements, new developments have been made to make thisnew product suitable for the automobile and aircraft industry so thatthe product of the invention is brought to a new state of the art. Theseare now described in more detail.

Optimization of Natural Fiber Blends

For automotive and aircraft upholstery fabrics produced from purenatural fibers, high standards with respect to fiber staple length,fiber quality, fiber surface and spin twisting must be met to meet theperformance requirements such as tensile strength and abrasionresistance in the use of automobile and aircraft seats (Martindale testmust meet minimum requirement of 50,000 revolutions).

It is desired to achieve a maximum surface quality of high qualityfibers in combination with mixtures of fibers with smooth surfaces suchas viscose filaments and the optimization of these with respect to theiruse. Such mixtures primarily include linen, cotton, bamboo, andviscose/modal fiber as filaments. The minimum requirements are fabricweights between 100 and 700 g/m² (preferably between 200 and 600 g/m²).

Spinning and Weaving

The automotive upholstery surface structures and the fabric weights mustcomply with the requirements and demands of the automotive industry andmatch each other by selected yarn counts (fineness), optimal spinrotation (twist effect), weaves such as Panama, twill, satin, etc.,density in warp and weft of the natural fiber blends and mixing ratios.

The minimum requirements are:

-   -   Fabric width: between 1 m and 3 m, preferably between 1.30 and        1.60 m    -   Fabric weight: between 100 and 700 g/m2, preferably between 200        and 600 g/m2    -   Density/10 cm: warp between 50 and 600, preferably between 100        and 500    -   weft between 50 and 300, preferably between 100 and 200    -   yarn fineness: warp 20-200 tex, preferably 40-60 tex        -   weft linen 50-300, preferably 100-200 tex

Here are 3 examples:

is Weaving sample 1: Blend: linen/cotton 50/50

-   -   Fabric width: 1.55 m    -   Fabric weight: 320 g/m²    -   Density/10 cm: warp: 155        -   weft: 152    -   Yarn fineness warp: Cotton Nm 20 (=50 tex)    -   weft: Linen Nm 9.6 (=103 tex)

Weaving sample 2: Blend: linen/Cotton 50/50

-   -   Fabric width : 1.53 m    -   Fabric weight: 430 g/m²    -   Density/10 cm: warp: 321        -   weft: 146    -   Yarn fineness: warp: Cotton 50 tex        -   weft: Linen 170 tex

Weaving sample 3: Blend: Linen/Cotton 50/50

-   -   Fabric width: 1.52 m    -   Fabric weight: 375 g/m²    -   Density/10 cm: warp: 416        -   weft: 138    -   Yarn fineness: warp: Cotton 50 tex        -   weft: Linen 110 tex

Weaving sample 4: Blend: Linen/Cotton 50/50 bleached

-   -   Fabric width : 1.49 m    -   Fabric weight: 440 g/m²    -   Yarn turning : Cotton Nm 20/1 (=50 tex),        -   turns: −612/m        -   Linen Nm 6.8 (=140 tex),        -   turns −309/m

Knitted goods can also be employed.

Pretreatment

A further step in achieving the desired requirements is the use of astate-of-the-art pretreatment for linen and linen/cellulose mixtures,such as desizing, demineralization , bleaching, as well as a specialmercerization process to reduce the fiber abrasion behavior and toincrease the required abrasion fastness according to the Martindale test(minimum 50,000 revolutions).

The mercerization is carried out with highly concentrated caustic sodaliquor and some alkyl sulfonate under fabric tension, for example, bythe following method:

Recipe: 8.0 ml/kg alkylsulfonate

-   -   743.0 ml/kg caustic soda 30° Bé

Treatment: 60 sec. immersion time and thereafter at least 2 min batchingtime under fabric tension

-   -   rinsing: at 25° C./70° C./25° C. each 3 min immersion time    -   neutralization: with Sirrix™ NE fl. (Clariant)

An additional advantageous effect of the mercerization is that thedyestuff build-up and the through-dyeing, particularly for deep shadessuch as black, is significantly improved.

First sample: blend sample cotton/linen 50/50 bleached, non-mercerized

Second sample: blend sample cotton/linen 50/50 bleached and mercerized.

Dyeing Process

A natural fiber automotive upholstery fabric made from linen and blendswith cotton or other cellulosic fibers such as bamboo and viscose mustbe dyed with dyestuffs quite different from those used for polyester.While polyester must be dyed with disperse dyestuffs, this inventive newproduct is primarily dyed with reactive, substantive, vat or sulphurdyestuffs. For reasons of the high fastness requirements for thisintended use, reactive dyes are preferred for this application.

Another important feature of this invention is that the highlight-fastness and high heat temperature light-fastness (several timesFAKRA-heat temperature light-fastness) required by the automobileindustry, achievable by the use, for example, of disperse dyestuffs onPES, can now also be achieved by this invention by using specificallyselected reactive dyestuffs on natural cellulose fibers such as linenand its abovementioned blends with cotton and other mixtures withcellulose fibers such as viscose and bamboo.

Another important aspect of this invention is, therefore, a carefulselection of suitable reactive dyestuffs with high light fastness asindividual dyestuffs and as components for high light fastnesstrichromatic blends from existing reactive dyestuff ranges.

All single and multiple anchor reactive dyestuffs, as well as sulphurand vat dyes, may be used. In the reactive dyestuff field, the followingreactive components can be used:

dichlorotriazine, fluorochloropyrimidine (FCP), dichloroquinoxaline,mono-fluorotriazine, 2× monofluorotriazine,monochlorotriazine+vinylsulfone, trifluoropyrimidine,monofluorotriazine/monochlorotriazine+vinylsulfone,fluorochloropyrimidine/monochlorotriazine+vinyl sulfone, vinyl sulfone,or 2× vinylsulfone,monochlorotriazine, 2× monochloro-triazine,monochlorotriazine modified, trichloropyrimidine.

Preference is given to specifically selected reactive dyestuffs based onsingle/multiple anchor fluorochlorpyrimidine as the main reactivecomponent.

In order to achieve the light- and FAKRA-high temperature fastness(dependent on the degree of dyestuff fixation) on the one hand, and, onthe other hand, a highly productive economic dyeing process, the dyeingprocess must be optimised.

The following suitable dyeing processes are preferred:

-   -   1.) Cold Pad Batch Process (CPB) as semi continuous process    -   2.) E-control process (new development of A. Monforts(ICI,        EP 081016) completely continuous process.    -   3.) Pad Dry Thermofix Process, completely continuous process    -   4.) Pad Dry Steam Process, completely continuous process    -   5.) Chemical Pad Steam Process, completely continuous process    -   6.) Exhaustion Process, discontinuous process in piece    -   7.) Exhaustion Process, discontinuous process in yarn

The weights of fabric in automotive upholstery goods are between 100 and700 g/m2, preferably between 300and 600 g/m2 and most preferably about400 g/m2. When using qualities of around 400 g/m2, it must be ensured,on the one hand, that a very good dye penetration is achieved, and onthe other hand, that the most economical dyeing process is used. Inorder to reconcile both requirements, there exists, in addition, on thepart of the chemistry, the possibility of using special dyeing liquoradditives such as 10-60 g/l, preferably 20-50 g/l of a polymerizationproduct based on acrylamide to support the dyestuff diffusion in orderto achieve an improved dyestuff penetration of the goods.

For the best possible thorough dyeing, the process and the liquor recipewere optimized for the highest possible dyestuff diffusion.

The invention is illustrated by the following dyeing samples:

EXAMPLE 1

Linen/cotton automotive upholstery fabric, about 430 g/m2, weavingsample 2 hereinabove described, desized, demineralized, bleached andmercerized, is padded in a semi-continuous cold pad batch process withthe following recipe for a black dyeing

-   -   45 g/l Reactive Orange CI RO 69    -   25 g/l Reactive Rubinol CI RR 171    -   70 g/l Reactive Blue CI RB 209    -   50 g/l urea (solvent for dyestuff)        -   1 ml/l nonionic wetting agent        -   1 ml/l sequestration agent

An alkaline liquor of the following composition

-   -   50 ml/l Sodium silicate 38° Bé    -   ml/l caustic soda 36 ° Bé

in liquor ratio of 1:4 is supplied continuously to the dye liquor bymeans of a dosage pump, and with this in the padder the fabric ispadded. Liquor temperature: 20° C.

After this process, the fabric is batched cold 4 hours and washed off asfollows:

It is rinsed in cold soft water, soaped in boiling water containing 2ml/l Ladipur™ RSK liquid detergent, rinsed in hot soft water, then incold soft water, neutralized with acetic acid and dried.

This gives a deep, level and good dyed-through black dyeing with perfectheat light fastness (FAKRA 3 fold grade note 8 blue scale, Xenon note 8blue scale) and good wet fastness properties.

EXAMPLE 2

Linen/cotton—automotive upholstery fabric, 320 g/m², weaving sample 1hereinabove described, desized, demineralized, bleached, mercerized isdyed in a newly-developed, fully continuous E-control process of thetextile machine company A. Monforts, Mönchengladbach, using thefollowing recipe:

-   -   45 g/l Reactive Orange CI RO 69    -   25 g/l Reactive Rubinol CI RR 171    -   70 g/l Reactive Blue CI RB 209    -   100 g/l urea    -   1 ml/l wetting agent (nonionic)

An alkali liquor containing 24 g/l soda ash in liquor ratio 1:4 withliquor temperature at 20° C. is separately led to the dyeing padder bymeans of a dosage pump.

The fabric is dyed at the E-control unit consisting of an IR pre-dryerand a hot-flue constant air humidity of 25% and 75% air and a chambertemperature of 125° C. (fabric temperature is approx. 69° C.).

The whole process consists of the steps of: padding, predrying at IRpre-dryer and complete drying at hot-flue. The complete dyestufffixation takes place at the same time.

Afterwards the dyed fabric is washed off as follows:

-   -   Cold rinsing in soft water    -   In boiling soft water soaping with 2 ml/l Ladipur™ RSK liquid        detergent    -   hot rinsing in soft water    -   cold rinsing in soft water    -   neutralization with acetic acid    -   drying

This gives a deep, level and good through-dyed black dyeing with perfectlight fastnesses (FAKRA heat light fastness 3 fold, note 8 in bluescale, note 4.5 in grey scale, XENON perfect as well, note 8 in bluescale) and another good wet- and rubbing fastness.

EXAMPLE 3

Linen/cotton—automotive upholstery fabric, 320 g/m2, weaving fabric 1 ashereinabove described, desized, demineralized, bleached, mercerized, isdyed in a semi-continuous cold pad batch process using the followingrecipe:

-   -   3.9 g/l Reactive Orange CI RO 69    -   2.8 g/l Reactive Rubinol CI RR 171    -   5.0 g/l Reactive Blue CI RB 209    -   1 ml/l nonionic wetting agent    -   1 ml/l sequestration agent

An alkali liquor in liquor ratio 1:4 of the following recipe

-   -   50 ml/l sodium silicate 38° Bé    -   5 ml/l caustic soda 36° Bé

is separately added by means of a dosage pump.

Dye liquor temperature: 20° C.

The dyed fabric is then batched cold for 4 hours and washed off asfollows:

-   -   cold rinsing in soft water    -   boiled soft water soaping with 2 ml/l Ladipur™ RSK liq.        detergent    -   hot rinsing in soft water    -   cold rinsing in soft water    -   neutralization with acetic acid    -   drying

This gives a level, good through-dyed light grey dyeing with very goodwet- and rubbing fastnesses and a good XENON light fastness with note6.5 in blue scale. The multiple FAKRA heat light fastness is good, butnot quite so high a standard as achieved in the black dyeingshereinabove exemplified.

EXAMPLE 4

Linen/cotton—automotive upholstery fabric, 320 g/m2, weaving sample 1hereinabove described, desized, demineralized, bleached and mercerizedis dyed in the Monforts equipment of Example 2, using the followingrecipe:

-   -   3.9 g/l Reactive Orange CI RO 69    -   2.8 g/l Reactive Rubinol CI RR 171    -   5.0 g/l Reactive Blue CI RB 209    -   1.0 ml/l wetting agent (nonionic)

An alkaline liquor with 14 g/l soda ash in a liquor ratio of 1:4, liquortemperature: 20° C., is separately led to the dyeing trough by means ofa dosage pump.

The fabric is dyed at the E-control unit consisting of IR pre-dryer andhot-flue constantly with a climate of 25% humidity and 75% air and achamber temperature of 125° C. (fabric temperature is approximately 69°C.)

The whole continuous process is as follows: padding, pre-drying at IRpre-dryer and complete drying at hot-flue, and the dyestuff fixationtakes place at the same time.

The dyed fabric is then washed off as follows:

-   -   cold rinsing in soft water    -   in boiling soft water soaping with 2 ml detergent from type        Ladipur™ RSK liq. detergent    -   hot rinsing in soft water    -   cold rinsing in soft water    -   neutralization with acetic acid    -   drying

The result is a deep, level and good through-dyed light grey dyeing withvery good wet- and rubbing fastnesses, with a XENON light fastness note6.5 in blue scale, and a high-standard multiple FAKRA heat lightfastness although not quite to the standard of the black dyeinghereinabove exemplified.

EXAMPLE 5

Linen/cotton 50/50, 430 g/m² (weaving sample 4 hereinabove described)bleached and high twisted as black dyeing is dyed in a cold pad batchprocess. This new pattern is woven with in exhaust process-bleached,high twisted yarns. As a result, the fabric could withstand 60,000 rpmon the Martindale abrasion test.

EXAMPLE 6

Fabric: 100% linen, about 120 g/m2, bleached.

Continuous dyeing process compared: cold pad batch process againstE-control process Monforts

Recipe Cold Pad Batch process:

-   -   32 g/l Reactive Orange CI RO 69    -   50 ml/l sodium silicate 38° Bé    -   15 ml/l caustic soda 36° Bé    -   Batching time: 8 hours, followed by washing off and drying

Recipe E-control process:

-   -   32 g/l Reactive Orange CI RO 69    -   10 g/l soda ash    -   2.5 ml/l caustic soda 36° Bé

The fabric is dyed at the E-control unit as hereinabove described,consisting of padder, infra-red pre-dryer and hot-flue unit with aconstant climate of 25% humidity and 75% air and a chamber temperatureof 125° C. (fabric temperature is approximately 69° C.). This results indoing so in the simultaneous achievement of pre-drying, complete dryingdyestuff fixation, after padding. The dyed fabric is then washed oft ashereinabove exemplified.

Both processes give perfect, even deep and brilliant pure linen dyeing,in which the depth of dyeing is virtually identical.

In a further trial of the same methods and conditions on 100% linen ofthe same fabric with a deep navy shade with 90 g/l dyestuff, twoperfect, even deep and brilliant pure linen dyeings are obtained. Inthis case, the dyeing of the E-control process was 13% deeper.

Finishing Process

For finishing, the now mercerized and dyed upholstery fabric product oflinen/cotton must be made to meet the existing requirement profiles ofthe automobile and aircraft industry in three steps, as follows:

-   -   1.) Mildew- and mold protection (microbacterial protection).    -   2.) Flame resistance    -   3.) Abrasion- and scour resistance    -   4.) Antipilling    -   5.) Stain resistance

The steps 1), 2) and 3) are carried out in that order, with the optionof combining steps 2) and 3).

Finishing Example Step 1 (Microbacterial Protection)

The rotting and mold resistance finishing is done in a separate processwith a bactericide of the type Sanitize™ 2724 (ex Sanitized AG,Switzerland) which is a pyrithione zinc compound at a treatmentconcentration of 0.5-2% based on the fabric weight. The application iscarried out by padding or spraying, followed by drying at 100-150° C.The treatment takes place directly after the dyeing and dryingprocesses. Because this is a pure natural product, rotting and moldresistance finishing is essential.

Finishing Example Step 2 (Flame Retardant Finishing)

The flame retardant finishing is achieved, using phosphate- or siliconeproducts, preferably phosphate products.

Use concentration: 100 up to max. 500 g/l, preferably 200-300 g/l

The liquor is padded on and subsequently dried at 100-150° C.Thetreatment is carried out separately after the application of theanti-bacterial product, or it may optionally be combined with theabrasion resistance finishing of step 3). By optimization of theproducts and their concentrations , the good dry and wet rubbingfastnesses of the reactive dyeing are not impaired.

Finishing Example Step 3

Recipe: 100 g/l polyacrylate-based development product

-   -   5 g/l fluorocarbon product (nonionic)    -   0.3 g/l wetting agent (anionic)    -   The addition of softener products is also possible.

Padder application, wet pick up 80%, 1 min at 150° C. effectively driedand condensed.

The abrasion resistance of the black dyed sample was tested in theMartindale test method according to EN ISO 12947-1 with 12 Kpa at 5,000,10,000, 20,000 and 60,000 RPM.

The 100% natural automotive upholstery sample could withstand undamagedthe test up to 60,000 RPM.

The surprising aspect of the entire finishing operation is that thephysiological and fastness results obtained after dyeing and drying,primarily the FAKRA and xenon light fastnesses, the rubbing fastness andthe abrasion resistance according to the Martindale tests were notimpaired but improved, so that the end-product meets the highrequirements of the automobile, bus and aircraft industry. Moreover,this can be done with a natural product in place of a petroleum-derivedsynthetic product.

Combined Advantages of the New Invention

1.) An automotive and aircraft seat upholstery fabric consisting of purevegetable natural products that meets the high physiological, fastnessand safety related requirements of the aircraft and automobile industry.

2.) The product is 100% biodegradable and therefore is highlyenvironmentally friendly.

3.) It consist of 100% natural renewable raw materials with highsustainability.

4.) The CO2 costs for the production of this natural product, calculatedaccording to the cumulative energy demand (CED), is 83% lower than thatof the production of petroleum-derived products or glass fibres.

5.) The fabric price is unaffected by the price fluctuations of theworld petroleum market, and is thus stable and predictable.

6.) Physiological benefits of pure natural fibers.

7.) Car seat fibres build up no electrostatic charge.

1.-12. (canceled)
 13. An automotive seat upholstery fabric or aircraftseat upholstery fabric made substantially from renewable andenvironmental-friendly natural fiber material wherein the said fabriccontains at least about 50% by weight of the said upholstery fabric islinen.
 14. An automotive seat upholstery or aircraft seat upholsteryfabric according to claim 13, wherein said fabric consists of linen andcellulose fibers selected from the group consisting of: cotton, bambooand/or viscose.
 15. An automotive seat upholstery or aircraft seatupholstery fabric according to claim 14, wherein the said fabricconsists of at least about 50% by weigh of linen, and the fabric furtherconsists of one or more further fibers selected from the groupconsisting of cotton, bamboo and/or viscose, and further wherein cottonand/or bamboo is present in an amount of between about 0% by weight andabout 50% by weight and in which the viscose is present in an amount ofbetween about 0% by weight and about 50% by weight.
 16. An automotiveseat upholstery or aircraft seat upholstery fabric according to claim13, wherein the said fabric consists of 50% by weight linen and about10% by weight to about 50% by weight cotton and about 4% by weight toabout 20% by weight of viscose.
 17. An automotive seat upholstery oraircraft seat upholstery fabric according to claim 13, wherein the saidfabric has a weight of between about 100 and about 700 g/m².
 18. Anautomotive seat upholstery or aircraft seat upholstery fabric accordingto claim 13, wherein the said fabric is washed, desized, demineralized,bleached and mercerized.
 19. An automotive seat upholstery or aircraftseat upholstery fabric according to claim 13, wherein the said fabric isformed by a process wherein it is semi- or fully continuously dyed inpieces, or is discontinuously dyed by exhaustion dyeing as yarn orpieces.
 20. An automotive seat upholstery or aircraft seat upholsteryfabric according to claim 19, therein the said fabric is a dyed fabricwhich has been dyed with high lightfast mono- or multifunctionalreactive dyestuffs.
 21. An automotive seat upholstery or aircraft seatupholstery fabric according to claim 19, characterized in that thefabric is dyed with a dye liquor in which is present 10-60 g/l of anacrylamide-based polymerization product which improves thethrough-dyeing or the dyestuff diffusion.
 22. An automotive seatupholstery or aircraft seat upholstery fabric according to claim 21,characterized in that the said fabric it is padded with an additionalfinishing liquor containing 50-200 g/l of a polyacrylate, 2-15 g/l of afluorocarbon product (non-ionic) and from 0.2-2 g/l anionic wettingagent and optionally further padded with a softener product, and whereinthe padded fabric is subsequently dried for 1 min at 150° C. and fixed.23. An automotive seat upholstery or aircraft seat upholstery fabricaccording to claim 13, characterized in that this fabric is padded orsprayed with a bactericide against decay and mold and is thereafterdried.
 24. An automotive seat upholstery or aircraft seat upholsteryfabric according to claim 13, wherein said fabric is finished with aflame-resistant finishing based on a phosphate compound which impairsneither the light fastness (FAKRA) nor the rubbing fastness of thefinished fabric.
 25. An automotive seat upholstery or aircraft seatupholstery fabric according to claim 13, wherein said fabric has aweight of between 200 and 600 g/m².
 26. An automotive seat upholstery oraircraft seat upholstery fabric according to claim 13, wherein saidfabric which exhibits a Martindale test score according to EN ISO12947-1 with 12 Kpa of at least 50,000 rpm.
 27. An automotive seatupholstery or aircraft seat upholstery fabric according to claim 26,wherein said fabric exhibits a Martindale abrasion test score of atleast 60,000 rpm.
 28. An automotive seat upholstery or aircraft seatupholstery fabric according to claim 13, wherein said fabric is treatedwith a bactericidal composition which imparts resistance to mold.
 29. Anautomotive seat upholstery or aircraft seat upholstery fabric accordingto claim 13, wherein said fabric is treated with a bactericidalcomposition which improves the rot resistance of the said fabric.